Reviews for “South of Midnight” Are In — A Complete Roundup

With the embargo finally lifted, reviews are flooding in for "South of Midnight," a third-person action-adventure game from Compulsion Games and Xbox Game Studios.

As we look through the range of scores and comments, it’s evident that the majority of critics have a favorable view of the game. The engaging story, striking art direction, and captivating soundtrack have especially garnered applause. However, opinions on the combat and other gameplay aspects show a bit more variety.

Currently, "South of Midnight" holds a score of 78 on Metacritic with input from 62 reviews, and it matches this score on Opencritic, based on 75 reviews.

I’ve gathered some notable quotes and scores from various outlets for you to check out:

GamingTrend (95/100): "South of Midnight is a shining example of how to pick a theme and stick to it wholeheartedly. The way music enhances the character world and lore is one of the best in the industry. From character models to the music, everything about ‘South of Midnight’ is built around a style, and it commits to that style entirely."

Pure Xbox (9/10): "To me, ‘South of Midnight’ is quite the triumph, exactly what I want from Xbox Game Studios. While it isn’t perfect, especially with its combat mechanics, the game radiates so much soul, personality, and charm that it’s hard not to fall for it."

PCMag (8/10): "This game delves into themes of growth and understanding, teaching us that curiosity and empathy are essential. While it leans heavily on familiar action-adventure tropes, it rewards with a rich Southern culture experience. It’s like a cherished family heirloom—perfectly imperfect, and ‘South of Midnight’ is definitely a dark horse contender for game of the year, worthy of our Editors’ Choice award."

Inverse (7/10): "The boundless imagination and slick presentation make it an ideal weekend diversion for Game Pass subscribers, though it doesn’t quite deliver as the engaging single-player action game I had hoped for."

Eurogamer (6/10): "The aim seems to have been to create something with broad appeal, bringing a story rich with Southern culture to as many as possible. However, in doing so, the game loses some of the more rewarding interactive experiences, leaning instead on familiar platforming and combat routines."

A dark journey unlike many other games unfolds as "South of Midnight" captures beauty in each scene. It’s not surprising that while some critics find the combat divisive, the consensus on setting and story is almost unanimously positive, though the strength of this connection can vary.

As for me, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this experience, awarding it 4 out of 5 stars in our review. I wrote, "I’ve relished this tale of a young Weaver’s quest to save her mother, and I sincerely hope to see more of Hazel in the future. ‘South of Midnight’ is a heartfelt tribute to Southern Gothic and the South itself, a sentiment that I hope resonates deeply with others."

Mark your calendars for April 8, 2025, when "South of Midnight" launches on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC through Steam and the Xbox PC app. What’s more, as an Xbox first-party title, it’s part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, with Premium Edition buyers already enjoying early access.